At a Glance
- Sheinelle Jones debuted as permanent co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle on January 12
- She revealed a 2024 text from late husband Uche Ojeh urging her to pursue the spot
- Ojeh died of glioblastoma in May 2025 at age 45
- Why it matters: The moment offered emotional proof to Jones that her new role was “meant to be”
Sheinelle Jones fought back tears on her first day as Jenna Bush Hager’s permanent co-host, sharing a two-year-old text from her late husband that foreshadowed the milestone.
The Premiere
The fourth hour of Today launched its new era Monday, Jan. 12, rebranded as Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. Jones, 47, opened the broadcast beside Bush Hager, 43, before welcoming former co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford as surprise guests.
Jones told viewers she had recently rediscovered a message Ojeh sent after Kotb announced her 2024 departure.
The Text That Predicted Everything
Jones displayed the text on air:
- A news alert about Kotb’s exit
- Ojeh’s caption: “It’s your turn to shine and to try”
- Emoji reactions: flexed arm and crossed fingers
“Uche always felt like when we were in college, ‘Oh you should do a show, you should do a talk show,'” Jones recalled. “When Hoda announced she was leaving, he was really sick … he could send me emojis and that would be how we talked.”
Jones admitted she brushed off the suggestion at the time. “I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about you,” she remembered telling him. “So now it just feels like confirmation … he’s like, ‘Told you.'”
A Year of Transition
- Fall 2024: Kotb announces exit
- January 2025: Today with Jenna & Friends debuts; Bush Hager hosts 60+ celebrity guests
- Late 2024: Jones takes leave as Ojeh undergoes glioblastoma treatment
- December 2025: NBC names Jones permanent co-host
- January 12, 2026: Today with Jenna & Sheinelle officially premieres
Ojeh died in May 2025, leaving Jones and their three children: son Kayin, 16, and twins Clara and Uche Jr., 13.
Divine Timing
Jones returned to the Today set wearing one of Ojeh’s shirts. “This is what it looks like,” she said of reclaiming joy. “It feels divine. It feels like Uche’s up there with God. He’s Mr. Competitive. He’s like, ‘Alright, let’s make this happen for Sheinelle.'”
Bush Hager called Jones “not my friend, but my sister,” echoing the familial tone the franchise has long embraced since Kotb and Gifford popularized on-air wine toasts and comedic segments later spoofed by Saturday Night Live.
Key Takeaways
- Jones’ debut marks the third iteration of the fourth-hour franchise in seven years.
- The emotional premiere underscored the personal loss behind her professional triumph.
- A simple emoji-filled text became a posthumous vote of confidence, turning Monday’s show into a celebration of love, resilience, and new beginnings.
